GROOMED L.A.

The only way to go is up. Dream big this weekend.

what if i wore this today for my birthday?

red dress.

watercolor on paper

8 x 10"

by emily wagner 

// INSPIRE // Theyskens' Theory Suit as interpreted by me while watching Charlie Sheen on Dateline

saw this pretty THEYSKENS' THEORY suit in NY TIMES MAGAZINE last week...

jacket $595 at barneys /// pants $390

think i like the KOKIN HAT best

$395 kokinnenewyork.com

 the whole ensemble actually comes in black.  

but when i painted it i got all funky and made it pink.

i was watching charlie sheen on Dateline as i was sketching and he made me, well, sketchy. 

so this is what happened:

pencil, acrylic, nail polish, glitter glue on ripped wall paper

by emily wagner 8 x 11.  2011

all copyrights.

Have a relaxing weekend :)

// INSPIRE // It wasn't a dream. Rodarte curates at MOCA. March 4- June 5 - Pacific Design Center, We-ho

March 4- June 5

MOCA Pacific Design Center, We-ho

The sisters of Rodarte Curate  "States of Matter"

 watercolor on paper by emily wagner 2011

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) presents Rodarte: States of Matter, the first West Coast solo exhibition of the work of fashion and costume designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte. Renowned for its expressive use of textiles, Rodarte creates unusual works through a highly elaborate and intensive processing and reconstruction of materials. Fabrics are often subjected to unusual, sometimes alchemical methods of alteration—dyed, stretched, stained, burned, or otherwise manipulated—before being reassembled as sculptural ready-to-wear. Materials are woven, knitted, or layered together as assemblages of plaid scraps, vinyl, cheesecloth, wool, cobweb, Swarovski crystals, macramé, leather, and more. Rodarte’s designs are inspired by sources uncommonly approached in fashion design—its Spring 2010 collection was based, in part, on the California condor. Other idiosyncratic influences include local landscapes, Japanese horror films, Boris Karloff as Frankenstein, and the work of Gordon Matta Clark.

    

MOCA PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER   8687 MELROSE AVENUE, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069

Located in the heart of West Hollywood, MOCA Pacific Design Center features rotating exhibitions of architecture and design and specialty shopping at the MOCA Store. Pacific Design Center web site MUSEUM & STORE HOURS MON   CLOSED TUES–FRI   11am–5pm SAT, SUN   11am–6pm Closed New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.     Directions and Parking  Information (PDF) Map ADMISSION Admission to MOCA Pacific Design Center is FREE   GROUP ADMISSION Prescheduled, accredited school groups receive free admission. Reservations must be made at least 10 business days in advance of visit by calling the Group Reservations line,  213/621-1745.

 

Art makes me think...

// INSPIRE // spring, if only...feeling Valentino today despite the rain...

watercolor, pencil, ball point pen on bristol vellum

9 x 12

emily wagner

(please do not use without permish but by all means you can use.  insert smiley face here.)

// INSPIRE // Feeling boho.

em::me designs

watercolor and ink on paper  8 x 10"

IF I DON'T MAKE $500 SAG DOLLARS BY MARCH 31st, I'LL REGRET NOT HAVING SENT JAY THIS V-DAY CARD

 
OWLY SHADOW PUPPETS at ETSY

$12

(hopefully we will never need this love card)

(and I wonder if this card fits us sometimes?)

Up up and away...Eye candy for your weekend :)

// INSPIRE // ballerinas and black swans

The Oscars = The Beautiful Life

on steroids

(and botox and lord knows what else) 

the world of hollywood plucks and preens

and fluffs it's feathers

here's a painting i made today for

black swan

(not that i saw it.  but sure want to.)

 

neverthelessitmademethink....

 

 :: have you ever felt like you've blended into the background? ::

:: have you ever felt invisible? ::

:: have you ever felt faceless? ::

:: have you ever felt like people can see right though you? ::

:: have you ever felt like you don't know where you end and the rest of the world begins? ::

:: have you ever suffered so hard for art, for beauty, for the beauty of art, that it hurt? ::

:: have you ever felt blinded by beauty? ::

:: by art? ::

 

 

natalie portman as the black swan.

watercolor, ink, acrylic on vellum 9x 12

emily wagner. 2011.  

all rights reserved.

(but if you want to re-post, just lemino, thnx!)

 

// INSPIRE // is a new feature on Groomed L.A.  Making your day even more beautiful.

love-bugs, happy v-day. heart you mucho xo em

made by my design crush of late, Justina at

www.compaiblog.com

 

// INSPIRE // gotta a brunch today? baby shower? cocktails tonight?

(hey, this is the debut of my new weekly Beautiful Life illustrations for you. ya like?)

ART FIX - Elizabeth Colomba

My friend Elizabeth is a sick painter.

She's like Kahinde Wiley meets Sargent meets Caravaggio meets Degas meets Vermeer meets Velázquez.

Originally from Paris, I met her here in L.A. when she was making it as a story-board artist for films like Romeo and Juliet, One Hour Photo, Jesse James, etc.

She skipped town for brighter pastures and high tailed to N.Y.C. to do nothing but paint.

Looks like the move paid off.  Her paintings are starting to hit it - big time.

View more of her work here: http://www.elizabethcolomba.com/

Here's a cool weekend send-off...Happy cocktails.

No, I love YOU more....Etsy eye-candy pick of the week.

THIS MAKES ME HAPPY AND FEEL ALL LOVE-L-Y DOVE-L-Y

Spread The Love, on Etsy

so perfect for your valentine!

sweet, functional and reminds them how much you love them every day.
pop it in a frame and you're golden!
{for extra special love write your name and a little note on the dotted line}

measures 11 x 14 printed on 80lb. premium quality professional laser paper. 
rag to the touch but raised and glossy where printed – so beautiful!

comes signed and in a crisp clean cello bag. 
rolled and shipped in a sturdy Uline snap-n-seal tube.

any questions just let me know!
xoxoxoxoxox
melanie

Have a hot, fashionable, winter weekend. Mwah.

Bad ass design makes me happy. SHANE EDELMAN design.

 

  

 

I have a best male friend.  Yup, just like in the movies.  Shane Edelman. The perfect best guy pal ever.  Not only is he the coolest mutha in town for so many reasons, married to the wicked talented fashionista star maker, Natasha Silver of Community Service Showroom,  but I also kinda wish I WAS him.

Having established a name for himself in showbiz as an actor (in just about every movie and he played my hubby in Motherhoodlum, the web series I created, directed, wrote, etc) and a director, he's been seriously hunkering down with another one of his true talents, art and design.  A gifted and established painter and textile/fabric guru, he's turning his eye and hand to graphics and bringing his talent right to you.  You may have seen his logos on some clothing lines at Anthropologie or his Forever 21 tee-shirts.  I'm obsessed with my market bag that he designed for Rory Becca  (above) and it's my go-to bday prezzie gift. 

Now he's kickin' out websites, invitations, logos, identities and branding and his shizzy kicks ass.

Check out his site for recent work even if you're not in the market.  Serious eye-candy!

DQTBA

(ssh...the next batch of Maria Alexandra Vettess' COME DARKNESS silk scarves is avail Feb 1st)

I wrote about artist, photog, stylist Maria Alexandra Vettesse's work recently...

Well, yay!

The next batch of Come Darkness Silk Scarves, featuring three new designs, will be available on February 1, 2011.  

As with the previous Scarves there will be three designs and 10 of each available. 

Here are the deets:

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Come Darkness Silk Scarves
No. 10, No. 13 & No. 31
3 New Designs, Editions of 10 Each
100 % Silk Crepe de Chine. 41 x 35 Inches
$132 + $10 Shipping & Handling
Opening Online: February 1, 2011
Private Opening (For Mailing List Only): January 27, 2011, Noon EST
Scarves are made to order and ship 3–4 weeks after purchase.

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

To sign up for the list...go here:

hello@iammav.com

 

Oh...here are some images of the show Come Darkness that Maria curated.

 I want to dive into these images.

Etsy pick of the week. Block print posters by the Big Harumph.

Always on the quest for a bold, visual wall statement. 

But it's gotta be simple, clean with a fist-full of punch.

When I'm not lining my walls with art from my fave Cali local artists (like Martin Durazo, Shane Edelman, Ruby Osorio, Kelly McLane or even my own work) I check out Etsy for fun finds or http://www.20x200.com.

likie these prints...

$20

One of my favorite RADIOHEAD lyrics. 

This original, hand-pulled poster was printed in turquoise on durable 110 lb. stock. The linoleum block is cut by hand, inked, then printed individually. Due to the printing process (which is done entirely by hand), there will be variations from print to print. All materials are permanent and archival. Exact color may vary slightly from image above. 

•Paper measures 8x10 in (20.3x25.4cm)
•Image measures 6x8 in
•Initialed on front & signed on the back
•Frame not included

$30

I LOVE THE SHIT OUT OF YOU

This original, hand-pulled poster was printed in black on canson 80lb cream paper. The linoleum block is carved, inked, then printed individually. Due to the printing process (which is done entirely by hand) there will be variations from print to print. All materials are permanent and archival. This print makes a wonderful gift! 

•Paper measures 10 x 18in
•Image is approximately 5x13.5in
•Signed on the front 

more here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/thebigharumph

NEED A BRILL, UNIQUE, SUPER SPECIAL ONE OF A KIND PREZZIE FOR THE TASTEMAKER IN YOUR LIFE?? ORDER THIS EXQUISITE BOOK! HURRY! ONLY 75 IN PRINT.

I am obsessed with this artist/designer/stylist, Maria Alexandra Vettese.  Oh did I mention she's an art director and photographer and does just about anything else having to do with visual brilliance?  I want to be her. 

Her silk scarves with the most divine photos printed on them sold out in minutes from her last art show.  CRAP! ( I'm getting on the waiting list for more)

(Check them out at this show below)

Come Darkness, a project curated by Maria Alexandra Vettese, is a yearly homage to winter light and a chance to welcome in the changing season. 

While the scarves were zapped up in no time, there are still a few copies of this delectable little book of 'out-takes' avail.  I  just purchased a few so you better hurry, I have a ton of cool prezzies to get and this may IT.  There are only 75 in print.

Come Darkness Book

Consider this your scrapbook of light. The Come Darkness keepsake book includes 16 original film photographs from the show and some that actually did not make the show; all images were taken in October, 2010 in Cushing, Maine. Each book is made one-of-a-kind by the scrap of silk attached to the cover with florescent pink fabric tape; all are numbered and signed and no two are alike. There are only 75 copies of this special book.

Book

8.25 x 10.5 inches, 28 pages, full color
Edition of 75 copies, each one-of-a-kind
Numbered, signed, fabric scrap cover varies on each book

$30 + $4 Shipping
Ships in 3–4 business days via first class post.

Maria Alexandra Vettese works in art direction, styling, design and photography. You can see more of her work here.

 http://iammav.com/

look at these scarves.

are you effen kidding??

wanna wear and decorate my walls with them.